Just imagine Jr. recruiting in the Southland….trying to talk a kid into coming to ‘Bama instead of, say, Tennessee!
“Just look at Tennessee’s record over the last several years…and they can’t even keep a coach”….

I am not sure if you were making a joke about consultants and I missed the sarcasm, but if not, I think that is probably the correct read of the situation. I have no idea whether or Kiffin is as insightful and offensive mind as he is reputed to be, but I imagine the cost to Saban is minimal. You bring him in and let him look at all-22 film and listen. If he has anything valuable to say, Bama benefits. If not, you thank him for his time and move along.

From a career perspective, Kiffin is basically networking/sharing ideas that Saban might repay with a phone call or a recommendation on Lane’s behalf.

I remember when Richt hired Homer Smith to come to Athens as a consultant after the 2001 season. Georgia had lost to Auburn because of poor clock management and the problem had contributed to several others, IIRC.

Since then, Richt has become the best clock manager in CF, maybe in the game. Offensively, nobody is a greater threat to score quickly, and it’s because the offense has been tweaked/managed to coincide with that end.

For about 4 years now, I’ve been calling for Richt to bring in a consultant, somebody from the outside (a head coach or former head coach), to evaluate his program, his style – everything – to see what needs to be changed in order to consistently field a solid football team.

I wish he would do it now, because nothing else is going to enable Georgia to improve. It’s the only really critical thing still lacking in the rebuilding process that began 4 years ago this month. But either Richt doesn’t see it, or he’s too stubborn or afraid to admit the problem. Now would be a great time to do it, but I doubt it will happen.

And it’s a shame, too, IMHO. I wish Richt would humble himself, and realize he needs help. There’s nothing wrong with that. Most of us are going to love him regardless of what the future brings.

But we’d all be a lot happier if he fixed this thing, once and for all.
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IL, I agree with almost everything in your thoughtful and insightful post. However, I must respectfully disagree that CMR is “the best clock manager in the game.” You are confusing being able to move the ball downfield quickly on offense with clock management. Those are not the same things. For example, he seems to never have a timeout left when he really needs it. There are other end of game problems, too. As you correctly point out above, he needs to bring in a knowledgeable consultant, as you put it, “to evaluate his program…to see what needs to be changed…” The end of game/near end of game f*ck-up problem has been going on for years. Does it happen every game? No. But it does happen often enough and, seemingly, at the worst possible times. Usually it happens on O, but not always. Lately it has been happening on special teams and on D, too. You’re right–he needs “to fix this thing, once and for all.” We have more talent than any other team in the SEC East and at least equal to any other team in the entire conference( Bama may have more depth but UGA’s first teamers are at least as good as Bama’s). But it seems we just don’t get everything out of the talent that we should get. IMHO the coaching staff is holding the players back from playing up to their true potential and that needs to stop.

Almost immediately after I posted this, I saw your post in another thread about end of game management. So I know we may disagree here.

I agree there have been a few issues. But unless I have missed something, I still believe Richt is about as good as it gets in a late game situation, in terms of managing the clock.

Now, not conserving timeouts is a part of it, but another thing. Remember, you have to allow the defense a TO or two. You have to give that to your DC. And that’s where most of our TO issues are, IMO.

Nevertheless, I’m glad you agree with the rest of my post, which is the most important thing. I wish we had hope of a realization and possible solution by Richt this offseason.

But I’m afraid the coach we all love is in denial, when it comes to being able to see what is holding his program back. At least, for some reason, he can’t see it. By now, just about every other explanation, certainly all the ones I can think of, have been already ruled out.
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I’m not sure why you think clock management was a big problem this season, Mayor. Off the top of my head, I can think of six games this year when Georgia scored in the last minute of a half – LSU, Tennessee, Vandy, Florida, Kentucky, Auburn and Tech – and I can’t think of a game when clock mismanagement contributed to a loss. Can you point to some specific moments that bug you?

Do you mean like not spiking the ball in the 2012 SECCG, thereby not having his players all on the same page and (1) a good RB not realizing he had to block a LB at the line of scrimmage thereby allowing that LB to tip a pass, and (2) not explaining to all the receivers that if you are not in the endzone DO NOT CATCH THE BALL because if you get tackled time will run out? Do you mean something like that? No, that didn’t happen this year. Other end of game management things sure did, though. (See, 4th and 18 in the Auburn game–hell CMR even admitted that.) What’s amazing to me is that several of the Disney Dawgs on this blog who feign ignorance of the CMR end of game mismanagement that cost us the SECCG (and likely a BCSNC) readily recognize Saban’s end of first half mismanagement in that same contest. It’s not just time-it’s making the right end of game decisions that win the game. That’s where the problem is–time management is just part of it. But, thank you for asking. 🙂

I realize that what you said above was intended to be tongue in cheek but the fact that key players do not know what to do in win or lose situations speaks volumes about their coaching. But you are right, a timeout should not be necessary. That, in a nutshell, is the problem–it IS necessary at UGA.

Quote Of The Day

“I’m thrilled for this day to get here, and I’m excited to find out how a lot of these new guys learn. These practices are not easy, and the idea is to create adversity for your team and find out who your leaders are.” — Kirby Smart, Chattanooga Times Free Press, 8/1/17